Of Hollywood --- and Math ?

Students,

I saw an interview/biography last night on the Hollywood
directer, Ron Howard. I bet your parents and grandparents
recall that he was first Opie, the son, on "The Andy
Griffith Show." You know him as a powerful and
well-respected director. Some famous films that he has made
are: "The DaVinci Code", "Cinderella Man",
"The Missing", "A Beautiful Mind", and "How the
Grinch Stole Christmas" (with Jim Carey).

So few child stars are able to translate their
early Hollywood success to adult success, I decided to
watch (while folding laundry) the interview.

"It's All About the Set Up"

When asked about his early and long-lasting
success as a money-making director in the
cut-throat world of Hollywood, Ron Howard
replied, "When I set out to make a movie,
I first think about every scene. I think about the shots,
the lighting, the sound, the camera angles. Then
before anyone acts, I worry about the set up.
You get it right when the set up is right. It's all about the set-up."
Students, I stopped folding the laundry. I turned to
the TV and stared at the screen.

"What did I just hear," I thought. "Did he just say it's
all about the set up?" "It is all about the set-up!" You
see, I had just gone on and on that very day in school
with my Honors Geometry class about proper problem
set up. "You gotta start with the logic," I said for about
the hundreth time. "Then, put in the Algebraic equations,
right underneath." I took a deep breath, "You gotta do
direct substitution, then combine like terms
printed neatly, lined up correctly."
My students' eyes were definitely glazing over.
"Do all the calculations slowly and accurately," I continued.

At this point several of my hungry, overtired students
were just NOT listening. (You know who you are ;-)
Finally, I yelled (to make a point and to wake them up),
"IT"S ALL ABOUT THE SET UP!"

There. I feel better. A world-class director who makes
ba-zillions has confirmed that set up is everything.
So, tomorrow in class, when, yes, once again
I'll be a stickler about correct problem setup, I'll think
of Mr. Howard and all his success. I'll know that you, too, will
be as successful as he is -- with math.
Yup, it IS all about the set up.
My only lasting question is: Do you think Ron Howard
was a wonderful math student? Hmmmm...what do YOU think?